With so much that Puerto Vallarta has to offer, every moment in this beautiful vacation spot can be shaped to meet your individual desires. Find yourself strolling back in time as you meander down the streets of the historic area of town, or the village of San Sebastian (15 minutes by plane) or follow your own steps to the rhythms of the Mariachi.

Your eyes can feast on beautiful textiles, original works of art from local artists and all over the globe, or the breathtaking beadwork of the Huichol Indians. Your mouth will water with anticipation for the authentic Mexican cuisine, while chefs from around the world serve up delicacies in renowned international restaurants. You may seek out the pristine white sand of the beach, or do your best to avoid it on one of seven exceptional golf courses.

With ample opportunities for activity at every turn, your adventurous side will never go unfulfilled, unless, or course, you want to give it a rest. In that case, Puerto Vallarta is the ideal location for glorious, sun-soaked inactivity.

Getting Around

Airport Transportation

By Taxi -- Taxis are plentiful and relatively inexpensive. Most trips from downtown to the northern Hotel Zone and Marina Vallarta cost $3.50 to $7; to or from Marina Vallarta to Mismaloya Beach (to the south) costs $10. Rates are charged by zone and are generally posted in the lobbies of hotels. Taxis can also be hired by the hour or day for longer trips. Rates run $12 to $15 per hour, with discounts available for full-day rates -- consider this an alternative to renting a car. Tip: Beware of restaurant recommendations offered by taxi drivers.  Many receive a commission from restaurants where they discharge passengers. Be especially wary if a driver tries to talk you out of a restaurant you've already selected.

By Car -- Rental cars are available at the airport and through travel agencies, but unless you're planning a distant side trip, they aren't needed. Car rentals are expensive, averaging $66 per day, and parking around town is difficult. If you see a sign for a $10 jeep rental or $20 car rental, be aware that these are lures to get people to attend timeshare presentations. Unless you are interested in a timeshare, stopping to inquire will be a waste of your time.

By Bus -- City buses, easy to navigate and inexpensive, will serve just about all your transportation needs. They run through the Hotel Zone along Morelos Street (1 block inland from the malecón), across the Río Cuale, and inland on Vallarta, looping back through the downtown hotel and restaurant districts on Insurgentes and several other downtown streets. To get to the northern hotel strip from old Puerto Vallarta, take the ZONA HOTELES, IXTAPA, or LAS JUNTAS bus. These buses may also post the names of hotels they pass, such as Krystal, Fiesta Americana, Sheraton, and others. Buses marked MARINA VALLARTA travel inside this area, stopping at the major hotels there. Other buses operate every 10 to 15 minutes south to either Mismaloya Beach or Boca de Tomatlán (a sign in the front window indicates the destination) from Constitución and Basilio Badillo, a few blocks south of the river. Buses run generally from 6am to 11pm, and it's rare to wait more than a few minutes for one. The fare is about 50¢ U.S.

By Boat -- The cruise ship pier (muelle), also called Terminal Marítima, is where excursion boats to Yelapa, Las Animas, Quimixto, and the Marietas Islands depart. It's north of town near the airport, an inexpensive taxi or bus ride from town. Just take any bus marked IXTAPA, LAS JUNTAS, PITILLAL, or AURORA and tell the driver to let you off at the Terminal Marítima. Note: You must pay a $1.50 U.S. fee (this is a federal tax) to gain access to the pier -- and your departing excursion boat.

Water taxis to Yelapa, Las Animas, and Quimixto leave at 10:30 and 11am from the pier at Los Muertos Beach (south of downtown), on Rodolfo Rodríguez next to the Hotel Marsol. Another water taxi departs at 11am from the beachside pier at the northern edge of the malecón. A round-trip ticket to Yelapa (the farthest point) costs $25 USD. Return trips usually depart between 3 and 4pm, but confirm the pickup time with your water taxi captain. Other water taxis depart from Boca de Tomatlán, about 30 minutes south of town by public bus. These water taxis are the better option if you want more flexible departure and return times from the southern beaches. Generally, they leave on the hour for the southern shore destinations, or more frequently if there is traffic. Prices run about $12 USD round-trip, with rates now clearly posted on a sign on the beach. A private water taxi costs $35 to $55 USD (depending on your destination) and allows you to choose your own return time. They'll take up to eight people for that price, so often people band together at the beach to hire one.

American Express-- The local office is at Morelos 660, at the corner of Abasolo (tel. 01-800/504-0400 and 1-336-393-1111 in Mexico, or 322/223-2955). It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm. It offers excellent, efficient travel agency services in addition to money exchange and traveler's checks.

Area Code-- The telephone area code is 322. The country code for Mexico is 52.

Climate-- It's warm all year, with tropical temperatures; however, evenings and early mornings in the winter can turn quite cool. Summers are sunny, with an increase in humidity during the rainy season, between May and October. Rains come almost every afternoon in June and July, and are usually brief but strong -- just enough to cool off the air for evening activities. In September, heat and humidity are least comfortable and rains heaviest.

Consumer Assistance-- Tourists with complaints about taxis, stores, abusive timeshare presentations, or other matters should contact PROFECO, the consumer protection office (tel. 322/225-0000; fax 322/225-0018). The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 3:30pm and may not have fluent English-speaking staff.

Currency Exchange-- Banks are found throughout downtown and in the other prime shopping areas. Most banks are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm, with shorter hours on Saturday. ATMs are common throughout Vallarta, including the central plaza downtown. They are becoming the most favorable way to exchange currency, with bank rates plus 24-hour convenience. Money exchange houses (casas de cambio), located throughout town, offer longer hours than the banks with only slightly lower exchange rates.

Embassies & Consulates-- The consulates are in a building on the southern border of the central plaza (you'll see the U.S. and Canadian flags). The U.S. Consular Agency office (tel. 322/222-0069; fax 322/223-0074, 24 hr. a day for emergencies) is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 2pm. The Canadian Consulate (tel. 322/293-0099 or 322/293-0098; 24-hr. emergency line 01-800/706-2900) is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 3pm.

Emergencies-- Police emergency, tel. 060; local police, tel. 322/290-0513 or -0512; intensive care ambulance, tel. 322/225-0386 (Note: English-speaking assistance is not always available at this number); Red Cross, tel. 322/222-1533; Global Life Ambulance Service (provides both ground and air ambulance service), tel. 322/226-1010, ext. 304.

Hospitals-- The following offer U.S.-standards service and are available 24 hours: Ameri-Med Urgent Care, Avenida Francisco Medina Ascencio at Plaza Neptuno, Local D-1, Marina Vallarta (tel. 322/221-0023; fax 322/221-0026); and San Javier Marina Hospital, Av. Francisco Medina Ascencio 2760, Zona Hotelera (tel. 322/226-1010).

Internet Access-- Puerto Vallarta is probably the most wired destination in Mexico. The Net House, Ignacio L. Vallarta 232, 2 blocks past the southbound bridge, has 15 computers with fast connections and English keyboards. It's open daily from 8am to 2am and charges $3.50 per hour. Café. COM, Olas Altas 250, at the corner of Basilio Badillo, charges $2 USD for 30 minutes. It offers complete computer services, a full bar, and food service. It's open daily from 8am to 2am. Some hotels have lobby e-mail kiosks, but they're more expensive than the Net cafes.

Newspapers & Magazines-- Vallarta Today, a daily English-language newspaper, is a good source for local information and upcoming events. The bilingual quarterly city magazine Vallarta Lifestyles is also very popular. Both are for sale at area newsstands and hotel gift shops. The weekly English-language P.V. Tribune is distributed free throughout town and offers an objective local viewpoint.

Pharmacies-- CMQ Farmacia, Basilio Badillo 365 (tel. 322/222-1330), is open 24 hours and makes free deliveries to hotels between 11am and 10pm with a minimum purchase of $20. Farmacias Guadalajara, Emiliano Zapata 232 (tel. 322/224-1811), is also open 24 hours.

Post Office-- The correo is at Mina 188. It's open Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm, Saturday from 9am to 1pm. A second location, on Colombia St., behind Hidalgo park, is open the same hours.

Safety-- Puerto Vallarta enjoys a very low crime rate. Public transportation is safe to use, and Tourist Police (dressed in white safari uniforms with white hats) are available to answer questions, give directions, and offer assistance.